Bhubaneswar, Sep 11: Odisha’s iconic Kalinga Studio is on track to become fully operational by January 2026, marking a major milestone in the revival of the state’s film infrastructure.

A seven-member legislative committee, led by Chairman Dushmanta Swain, visited the studio on Thursday to review progress and inspect the foundation work.

Committee members including Chhabi Mallik, Aravind Mahapatra, Lakshman Bag, Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Rupesh Kumar Panigrahi, and Satyajit Gamang participated in the inspection and held discussions on the studio’s readiness. Swain stated that the government is making every effort to ensure the studio becomes functional by the target date.

The studio, once a hub for Odia cinema in the 1980s and 90s, had fallen into disuse after the 1999 super cyclone. Now, with a ₹200 crore redevelopment plan underway, the facility is being transformed into a state-of-the-art production complex.

The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) is executing the project, which includes indoor shooting floors, sound recording rooms, animation workstations, and themed sets like snow worlds, haunted houses, and airports.

Earlier, on June 1, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with the Education and Culture Ministers, visited the site and promised a dedicated Detailed Project Report (DPR) to accelerate the transformation.

Once completed, Odia filmmakers will no longer need to travel to studios in other states for post-production work. The studio is expected to offer comprehensive facilities for editing, dubbing, and shooting, making it a one-stop destination for regional cinema.